LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





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DORCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



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CATALOGUE 



OF 



CIVIL WAR RELICS 



1862 — 1863 — 1864 



OLD BLAKE HOUSE 

COLUMBIA ROAD 
DORCHESTER, MASS. 

Open Tuesdays and Saturdays 2 to 5 P.M. 
OCTOBER, 1906 



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DORCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



OFFICERS 

1906—1907 



President, RICHARD C. HUMPHREYS 

Vice-President, JAMES H. STARK 

Secretary and Treasurer, JOHN A. FOWLE 



DIRECTORS 

EDWD A. HUEBNER THOS. F. TEMPLE 

EUGENE R. SHIPPEN EDWD W. McGLENNAN 

JAMES H. STARK JOHN A. FOWLE 






Dorchester, Sept. 15, 1906. 
Richard C. Humphreys, Esq., 

President Dorchester Historical Society. 

Dear Sir, — We desire to present to the "Dorchester His- 
torical Society" for safe keeping some relics of the Civil 
War that came into our possession about forty years ago, as 
the result of services given by us for the benefit of Soldiers in 
Washington, D.C. 

In desiring to preserve them for the information of future 
generations, we know of no more appropriate place than with 
your Society, especially as Dorchester was so deeply inter- 
ested in and did so much to aid us in our work. 

Should there be in the future any change in your Society 
or in the occupancy of the Old Blake House, we request that 
the collection be deposited with the ''New England Historic 
Genealogical Society," or any organization that will care 
for the collection. 

We beg that these relics as per enclosed Catalogue may be 
received and cared for in the same patriotic spirit in which 
they are given. 

We are, Very truly yours, 

JOHN A. FOWLE. 
ELIDA R. FOWLE . 



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Mr. and Mrs. John A. Fowle, 
Dorchester, Mass. 

Dear Friends, — I have read with great interest the catalogue 
of the various things you offer to give to the Dorchester 
Historical Society to be placed in the Blake House. 

It seems to me quite appropriate that our Society should 
take charge of these things, as Dorchester people were so deeply 
interested in the work the memory of which these objects 
perpetuate. 

As President of the Dorchester Historical Society, I accept 
with great pleasure these objects, and assure you that they 
will be carefully cared for and treasured as a memorial of 
your valuable services in behalf of the soldiers of the Civil War. 

I note your suggestion in regard to the disposal of these 
objects in case of any change in our Society, and shall do my 
best to see that your wishes in the matter are respected. 

Thanking you both personally, as well as for the Society, 

I am sincerely yours, 

RICHARD C. HUMPHREYS, 
President Dorchester Historical Society. 



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LIST OF CIVIL WAR RELICS 

PRESENTED TO THE 

''DORCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY" 

AND DEPOSITED IN THE 

OLD BLAKE HOUSE 

BY 

Mr. and Mrs. John A. Fowle 

OF UPHAM'S corner, DORCHESTER. 

for the purpose of preserving some mementoes of the war 
period between 1862 and 1864, when the donors resided in 
Washington, D.C., Mr. Fowle being connected with the Navy 
Department, thus affording an opportunity to give their 
services for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers, particulars 
of which are found in Frank Moore's ''Women of the War," 
the "American Series of Biographies: Massachusetts," 
Holland's "Army Nurses," and other books. 



No. I. 
SMITH ORGAN. 

This organ was used in 1862, 1863, and 1864 on Sunday 
mornings, in the House of Representatives, at Religious and 
Patriotic Services conducted by Rev. Dr. Stockton, Chaplain 
of the House. It was taken there and returned each week in 
an ambulance. The organ was paid for from the proceeds 
of a patriotic concert given in Willard 's Hall. 

It was used by Mr. and Mrs. Fowle during each week in the 

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Soldiers' Free Library and in Hospitals and Camps in 
and around Washington. Being made to fold up, it could 
be easily conveyed any distance. Soldiers were allowed to use 
it, and many availed themselves of the privilege. 

No. 2. 

SOLDIER'S CHAIR. 

Made by a soldier from hard-tack boxes. He was a member 
of the ist Delaware Battery at Camp Barry on the Heights, 
near Washington. He gave it to the Library, saying it would 
do for a seat in playing the organ. 

No. 3. 
LAND FROM CONGRESS. 

Framed copy of the Joint Resolutions of the Senate 
and House of Representatives, approved by President 
Lincoln Jan. 13, 1863. 

This copy is signed by President Lincoln and Secretary 
Seward, Mrs. Fowle (then Miss Rumsey) taking it to the 
White House, and at her request each signed it. 

The original Act, engrossed on parchment, is in the Archives 
of the State Department at Washington. It grants to John 
A. Fowle and Elida B. Rumsey land in Judiciary Square 
on which to erect the Soldiers' Free Library. 

Nos. 4 and 5. 
SOLDIERS' FREE LIBRARY. 

Two Pictures. 

The Library was started in the early part of 1862. Rooms 
were hired on Fifth Street, near the City Hall, from which 
books and supplies were^distributed. It was soon found that 
the quarters were entirely inadequate for the needs of the 
Library. Mr. and Mrs. Fowle, with their friends, decided 

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to erect a building of the proper size. The plans and efforts 
were crowned with success, and in one year from the founding 
of the Library the building was erected in Judiciary Square, 
5th and E Streets. The pictures were drawn and painted 
by soldiers. The Library Building was paid for from the 
proceeds of concerts given in Washington and other places, 
also by donations from soldiers' friends in Massachusetts, 
New York, and Connecticut. 

It was dedicated March i, 1863, on Mr. and Mrs. Fowle's 
wedding day, and conducted by them free of expense. The 
United States government furnished a convalescent soldier 
to act as librarian and assistant. 

The Library was provided with about 6,000 books from 
Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Boston, New York, Norwich, 
Conn., and other places. Newspapers and magazines were 
sent by the publishers, all without cost. 

In the building was a room for supplies sent by soldiers' 
friends. 

A table was provided with fixtures for soldiers to write letters. 
They were given paper, pens, and ink and stamps free. The 
books were covered with paper presented by Mayor Rice, of 
Boston. Books were loaned to soldiers under an agreement 
to be returned in ten days, and very few books were lost. 

The government furnished daily an ambulance and driver 
with which Mrs. Fowle visited the hospitals and camps 
in and around Washington to distribute books, papers, and 
supplies. In May, 1863, the number of hospitals and camps 
was SIXTY-TWO, and they sheltered THiRTY-rouR thousand 
sick and wounded soldiers, including convalescents. 

The American Tract Society of Boston furnished thousands 
of copies of the Soldier Hymn Book, and a newspaper called 
the Soldiers' Banner, also large supplies of their publica- 
tions. From the Boston branch of the Bible Society for free 
distribution the Library was supplied with many Bibles and 
Testaments. 

The reading-room had a seating capacity of about 150. 

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In it were held Sabbath services, conducted by city pastors, 
chaplains, and soldiers, also various meetings in the inter- 
ests of soldiers. The room was tastefully decorated with pic- 
tures donated by Williams &. Everett, J. H. Bufford, A. A. 
Childs, and others of Boston. 

An account was kept of the distribution from the Library and 
storeroom. For the year of 1862 and 1863, ending in June, 
1863, the time when there were calls for all kinds of supplies, 
when every hospital, the Rotunda at the Capitol, and many 
churches were filled with sick and wounded soldiers, when the 
Sanitary Commission and other organizations were taxed 
to their utmost to furnish supplies at the front and in the 
Hospitals, the Soldiers' Free Library was very busy 
in its work, as will be seen by the following statement of its 
distribution. There were given out during this period: shirts, 
2,150; drawers, 1,495; towels, 763; sheets, 224; gowns, 285; 
coats, 85; trousers, 158; waistcoats, 148; slippers, 679; bandages 
in rolls, 9 barrels; lint, 6 barrels; fans, 900; pocket handker- 
chiefs, 4,000 to 5,000; cologne, 422 bottles; socks, 320 pairs; 
postage stamps, 1,390; writing paper, 25 reams; envelopes, 
9,000; Testaments and Bibles, 2,370; magazines and books 
(given away), 1,675; singing-books, several thousand; of 
the Christian Banner, Soldiers' Directory, Tract Journal, 
Tracts, pictorial papers, — there must have been 35,000 to 
40,000. There was also given out farina, cornstarch, cocoa, 
chocolate, wines, jellies, brandy, etc. 

On top of the library-room and the supply-room, were 
stacked piles of crutches and canes made at the Navy Yard. 
Hundreds of them were given to the soldiers, and this depart- 
ment was much appreciated. 

The cash receipts were about $1,500 from concerts and 
donations, which were expended in the Library Building and 
for soldiers. 

After the war the books were given to the Young Men's 
Christian Association, and the building and contents to the 
Freedman's Bureau. 

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No. 6. 
LIBRARY RECORD BOOKS. 

They contain signatures of thousands of soldiers taking 
books out of the Library, visiting the reading-room, or getting 
supphes. There are also catalogues of portions of the Library 
showing the selections made of many of the books donated. 

Magazines and some of the books were not catalogued 
for lack of time. 

No. 7. 

PICTURES. 

Many pictures were donated by soldiers' friends, and hung 
in the hall of the Library. There were pictures of President 
Lincoln, General Sherman, Grant, Sheridan, and others. 

"A Drill 50 Years Ago" always amused the soldiers, it 
being a picture of a yearly custom on the last day of the Mil- 
itia drills in "ye olden days." 

Photographs of the Voters in Congress in Favor of the 14TH 
Amendment abolishing Slavery. It is a very rare picture, as 
fire destroyed the plates after the first edition was printed. 

When the Library Building was given to the Freedman's 
Bureau these pictures were reserved. 

No. 8. 

CONFEDERATE FLAG. 

Captured at Island No. 10 by Admiral Foote. Presented 
to the Library by Admiral Davis. 

No. 9. 

CONTRABAND'S DRESS. 

Taken from a former slave girl sent to Washington by 
General Butler. She was one of about a thousand contrabands, 
the first sent from Virginia to Washington. They were given 

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tents by the government, and camped at Arlington, Va., on 
General Lee's estate. They were fed and cared for under the 
charge of Surgeon Webster and wife, of Connecticut. The 
Library furnished them with a quantity of supplies. They 
were finally sent North. 

No. lo. 

HOSPITAL'S PICTURE BOOKS. 

Two books of pictures, the smaller one arranged in Dor- 
chester, the other made and used in Columbia College 
Hospital from a doctor's diary book. The Library had a 
number of these books in use in the several hospitals during 
the war. They were much appreciated by the sick soldiers. 

No. II. 

SHOT AND SHELL. 

The solid shot was thrown from Bolivar Heights into 
Harper's Ferry. The other specimens were gathered by 
Mr. and Mrs. Fowle on the battlefields of Bull Run, Gettys- 
burg, Antietam, and South Mountain. 

No. 12. 

BIBLE, ETC. 

From the battlefield of Bull Run (2d battle), the knife, 
fork, and spoon from the same source, collected by Mr. and 
Mrs. Fowle the last day of the battle. 

No. 13. 

LETTERS, ETC. 

In this book will be found letters and reading matter re- 
ferring to the war, to soldiers and their supplies; also invoices 
of many of the books and articles sent to the Library. 

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Letters from Rev. Nathaniel Hall, of the Meeting-house Hill 
Church, Rev. Dr. Means, of the Second Church, Hon. Mar- 
shall P. Wilder, Rev. T. T. Munger, Edward G. Porter, also 
from many ladies and children who gave much of their time 
in collecting books, funds, and supplies for the benefit of sick 
and wounded soldiers. There are also chaplains and soldiers* 
letters, and various matters pertaining to the war. 



No. 14. 
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 
Passes and other papers connected with the war. 

No. 15. 

WRITING-DESK. 

Used in hospitals to write soldiers' letters on. It was 
carried round to many hospitals, furnished with pens, ink, 
envelopes, paper, and stamps. Hundreds of letters were 
written on it. 

No. 16. 

HISTORIES OF THE WAR. 

Life of General Scott. 
Potomac and Rapidan. 
General Butler in New Orleans. 
Lossing's Civil War, 3 volumes. 
Holland's Our Army Nurses. 
Nurse and Spy. 

Frank Moore's Women of the War. 
Grant and his Campaigns. 
Four Years of Fighting. 
Campaign in Virginia. 

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Four Years in Seccessia. 

Records. Second Massachusetts Infantry. 

Army of the Potomac. 

Field Dungeon and Escape. 

Scott's Military Dictionary. 

Incidents of the Civil War. 

And other books. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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